Manager Walt Weiss plans to give Rosario work at first base during camp, the idea being that if Rosario can fill in at first, the Rockies can get his powerful bat in the lineup more often. Rosario is fine with that.

“The only thing I know is that I want to win and do the best thing I can for my team,” Rosario said. “I’m not going to be that great player like (Todd) Helton or (Justin) Morneau at first, but I want to be a player. If they need me there, I will prepare.”

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — I just got back to the Rockies’ office complex at Salt River Field after watching Tuesday’s morning practice. Here are some early camp observations:

* Pitching prospects Jon Gray (he says he prefers Jon to Jonathan) and Eddie Butler threw their first official big-league bullenpen sessions. They worked side by side and the contrast was striking. Gray, last year’s first-round pick, is tall and powerful. His delivery is smooth and classic. His fastballs exploded into catcher Wilin Rosario’s mitt.

Butler, shorter, more compact, has a more unorthodox delivery, but he was consistently down in the strike zone. The terrific movement on his pitches — his calling card — was clearly evident.

* It’s very clear why the Rockies brought catcher Michael McKenry into camp to compete for a backup job. He’s a vocal, passionate veteran presence. He caught Butler’s bullpen session and worked hard to make sure Butler was hitting his locations and releasing the ball from the proper arm slot. In short, McKenry was teaching. I see a future career in coaching/managing for McKenry when his playing career is finished.

Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario will have a new coach next season. (Denver Post file photo)

The Rockies’ offseason shuffled continued Thursday with the club announcing that catching coach Jerry Weinstein — who worked tirelessly to improve Wilin Rosario’s skills behind the plate — has been reassigned. The Rockies said Weinstein will have “an undetermined role on the organization’s player development staff.”

Longtime major league coach and former manager Rene Lachemann, who served as the Rockies’ first-base coach this past season, will assume Weinstein’s duties handling the catchers and defensive positioning.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.